§ 40:74-14 — Duty of board on submission of ordinance; submission to voters; withdrawal of petition

If the petition accompanying the proposed ordinance be signed by electors equal in number to at least 15% of the votes cast at the last preceding general election at which members of the General Assembly were elected, and contains a request that the ordinance be submitted to a vote of the people if not passed by the board of commissioners, the board shall within 20 days after attachment of the clerk's certificate to the accompanying petition either: a. Pass the ordinance without alteration; or b. Forthwith, upon the expiration of that 20 day period, call a special election to be held not less than 40 nor more than 60 days from the final date for withdrawal of the petition as provided for in this section, unless a general election or regular municipal election is to be held not less than 40 days nor more than 90 days thereafter, and at such election such ordinance shall be submitted without alteration to the vote of the electors of the municipality. If the petition is signed by not less than ten nor more than 15% of the electors, as above defined, then the board of commissioners shall, within 20 days, pass said ordinance without change or submit the same at the next general election or regular municipal election occurring not less than 40 days after the clerk's certificate of sufficiency is attached to the petition. If, within 10 days after final adverse action by the board or after the expiration of the time allowed for board action, as the case may be, a written request, signed by at least four of the five members of the Committee of the Petitioners, is filed with the municipal clerk requesting that the petition be withdrawn, the petition shall have no effect. Amended by L.1982, c. 145, s. 14, eff. Sept. 28, 1982.